Daywatch: Indiana law shrouds executions in secrecy
Good morning, Chicago. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
Good morning, Chicago.
From public hangings in the town square to lethal injections witnessed by journalists, executions historically have mostly been carried out with at least some public scrutiny. Indiana was expected to again diverge from that tradition today, until state prison officials granted Joseph Corcoran‘s request to include a reporter among those witnessing his early-morning execution.
The state had said no independent witnesses would be present due to Indiana laws shielding information about the death penalty. But the editor of the Indiana Capital Chronicle posted on X after the early Wednesday execution that Corcoran put one of the outlet’s reporters on his own list of permitted witnesses and she was allowed to observe.
Prior to the change, some First Amendment advocates and death penalty experts call Indiana’s lack of transparency during the gravest of government punishments alarming.
And here are the top stories you need to know to start your day.
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Illinois Democrats push to accomplish a slew of last-minute goals as President Joe Biden’s era ends
One month before President Joe Biden cedes the White House to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, Biden’s administration and the Democratic majority in Illinois’ congressional delegation are scrambling to check off final items on their to-do lists.
Strained City Council relationships a cost of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s budget
When the votes to pass Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2025 budget finally came together Monday, they were rife with caveats.
Many of the aldermen who finally pushed the spending plan through argued the mayor’s process was disorganized, overly delayed and even disrespectful. But with a critical Dec. 31 deadline looming and property taxes stripped from the $17.1 billion spending plan, they paired their harsh critiques with much-needed approval.
Grubhub agrees to pay $25 million to settle claims it misled customers, restaurants and drivers
Grubhub has agreed to pay $25 million and put an end to practices that included misleading customers over the costs of using the food delivery service and listing restaurants without their consent under a proposed settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office, the agencies said on Tuesday.
Most of the money from the $25 million settlement with the Chicago-based company is to be returned to customers, drivers and affected businesses nationally, FTC Midwest Region Director Jason Adler said.
Calls for CTU transparency from principals and newly elected school board members
Several newly elected Chicago school board members and school principal support organizations are asking for more communication and transparency from the Chicago Teachers Union about ongoing contract negotiations.
Angel Gutierrez, who won the race for school board in the Southwest Side District 8, wrote a letter to Chicago Public Schools officials last Friday asking for an explanation as to why a scheduled training for newly elected school board members this week is canceled.
‘We want stability’: Columbia College Chicago students and faculty consider options amid program cuts, impending layoffs
In her sign language class, Anya Tapley learned to express metaphors and create poetry through a language “that’s more than just a language.” The instructor taught her how to think outside the box, a skill she said she’ll use in her future career.
When the 21-year-old junior learned that Columbia College Chicago plans to discontinue the ASL degree next academic year, she said she’s upset that future students likely won’t have access to the courses and professors who have set her up to become a top-notch interpreter.
Oak Park Detective Allan Reddins remembered as friend and mentor who was ‘wise beyond his years’
Detective Allan Reddins was a rising star in the Oak Park Police Department. The man who close friends called Bear had become a detective after only three years as a patrol officer and was a highly respected and popular member of the department.
But his life was tragically cut short the day after Thanksgiving while on a patrol shift because of staff shortages. Reddins was shot and killed after he confronted a man with a gun on Lake Street in downtown Oak Park.
Chicago Cubs trade OF/1B Cody Bellinger and cash to the New York Yankees for pitcher Cody Poteet
It seemed inevitable Cody Bellinger would be wearing a different uniform on opening day after the Chicago Cubs acquired right fielder Kyle Tucker to create a crowded outfield.
Less than three hours after the team introduced Tucker during a video news conference Tuesday afternoon, the Cubs traded Bellinger to the New York Yankees for right-hander Cody Poteet.
- 3 Cubs takeaways: Kyle Tucker is open to extension talks and Matt Shaw will get a look at third base
Mike Tauchman thrilled to remain in the area after signing with the Chicago White Sox
The Palatine native — who said the first MLB game he attended came when the St. Louis Cardinals visited the Sox during Mark McGwire’s 70-home run season in 1998 — was thrilled with the chance to remain in the area.
“It’s great,” he said. “We have a two-month-old (daughter) at home, our first kid. The grandparents and aunts and uncles are here. Everybody is local. You don’t understand the phrase ‘it takes a village’ until you have a kid of your own and our village is great.
‘Emilia Pérez’ and ‘Wicked’ advance in Oscars shortlists
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled shortlists in 10 categories yesterday, including for documentary, international feature, best song and score. Two musicals, “Emilia Pérez” and “Wicked,” were well represented in the categories.
Love or hate: Travelers have fiercely strong opinions about cruises
Forget politics and religion. Cruises may actually be the most hotly contested topic at your holiday table.
It’s no secret that travelers either passionately love cruises or hate them with actual fury. There’s rarely an in-between.
Top 10 Chicago theater performances of 2024: Alana Arenas, a stunning Blanche and the return of some Chicago greats
Here is Tribune theater critic Chris Jones’ annual celebration of the 10 best performances of 2024 on Chicago stages. These performances ran the gamut of human emotions and were found in Chicago-area theaters large and small. Some were by veteran pros; a few were from relative newcomers. All were unforgettable.
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